Wringer



July 16, 1940. N. ,ETTEN WRINGER Filed April 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 all mum

flaiahf za Patented July 16, 1940 "UNITED STATES were PATENT- OFFICE: 7

WRINGEB Nicholas L. Etten, Waterloo, Iowa I Application April 26, 1939, Serial No. 270,115

. 4 Claims.

This invention relates to wringers for domestic washing machines and particularly to a safety device for stopping rotation of the wrlnger rolls when roll pressure is released. Such devices have heretofore been provided but in various ways have proven faulty and troublesome in actual service. I

In the present invention the applicant has provided a simplified form of roll clutching device for a safety roll stop and one less liable to disarrangement and failure under actual working conditions. In carrying out the invention the applicant has developed a structure around a tubular shaft wringer roll which is carried and journaled on. a shaft extending completely across the wringer frame. This structure largely avoids misalignment of parts, binding, and like faults and is a sturdy, long-lived safety mechanism.

The novel features and details of the invention will be disclosed in the following descriptions and drawings in which:

Fig. l is a broken elevation View showing the wringer complete with wringer head with the rolls together in pressure relationship and with the roll stop clutch engaged; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken cross-sectional elevation view of the wringer only, showing the roll pressure released and the roll stop clutch disengaged.

Now referring to the drawings in which I show a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral H3 designates the lower frame, and the numeral H the upper frame. The assembled wringer structure is mounted on a conventional wringer head l2 driven by coupling I3 which connects to a vertical drive shaft from the wringer drive mechanism. The rotation of the rolls is controlled by the wringer head in a conventional manner by the control handle I 6.

An upper roll 15 having a solid shaft and a tubular shaft lower roll iii are mounted in the wringer frame. The top frame is held on the lower frame by conventional integral latch H on its outer end and by an unstable latching device on its inner end. This unstable latch consists of a rounded projection IS on the top frame which is held by a latch I9 hinged to the lower frame, as shown. A retaining latch 23 retains the hinged latch I9 and is controlled by a conventional release device (not shown) through the release button 2!. The rolls are held in pressure engagement by a conventional spring means 23 (not shown) having a pressure adjustment screw 22.

The upper rolls are journaled in a conventional manner in bearings 24 and 25. The tubular shaft lower roll I6 is supported on its inner end by a journal block 26 pivotally'mounted on across pin 21. The outer end of the roll [6 is'supported on a journal block 28 pivotally supportedby a cross pin 29. The upper face of the journal block 23 has tapering bearing surfaces 28' and 28", the purpose of which will later be explained.

The tubular shaft lower roll I6 is supported by a cross shaft 30 driven by a coupling 3| in. the wringer head through conventional drive flats 30'. The fit between the shaft 30 and the coupling 3! I make rather loose in order to provide easy pivotal movement of the shaft, as will later be explained. When the shaft 30 tilts it will readily be appreciated that the bearing block 26 may be likewise tilted, supported as it is by the cross pin 21. Thus I provide means whereby the journal 26 is in firm supporting relationship with the shaft 30 but will not be. bound and produce excess friction when the shaft 33 is tilted. The shaft 30 is reduced in its diameter at its outer end, as shown by the numeral 30". Through the shaft 30 at itsinner end is a drive pin 32 of a proper size to engage in the cross slot 33 of the tubular shaft 16', as clearly shown in the drawings. The tubular shafted lower roll I6 is supported on the shaft 30 by bearings 34, 35 and 36 securely pressed into the inner diameter of the tubular shaft. Thus the lower roll l6, as shown in Fig. 2, permits the cross shaft 30 to freely revolve on the bearings 34, 35 and 36, while the roll l6 itself may remain stationary.

Fixed to the outer end of the shaft 30" is a tapered journal member 38, and inside the member 38 is a mating journal member 31 which is press fitted and fixed in the tubular shaft IE but is free to slide or rotate on the shaft 30" by reason of the inserted bearing 33. A compression spring 39 is mounted between the inner face of the bearing pivot 31 and the shoulder 40 on the cross shaft. This spring has the effect of urging the lower roll 16 outward, and when roll pressure is released, the entire lower roll [6 will slide endwise, thus raising the outer end, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. It will readilybe appreciated that this lower roll l6, journaled as it is on the cross shaft 30 and 30", will be free to slide with a minimum of binding effect and thus will declutchthe pin 32 from the cross slot 33. In this sliding movement the roll journal 31 will slide upward on the inclined face 28 of the bearing 28, at the same time tilting the bearing 28 outward on the pin 29.

When roll pressure is restored the journals 2! and 28 will be wedged apart by the tapered faces 28' and 28", and thus the roll [6' will be forced inward until the cross pin 32 is again engaged in the cross slot 33.

It will readily be appreciated that in the above structure as described, I have taken advantage of a tubular shaft for the lower roll and enclose therein a cross shaft and bearings which affords a simple, durable construction that is most effective for mypurpose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a wringer, a frame, a pair of cooperative wringer rolls, pressure means for the rolls, roll pressure release means, a tubular shaft through the lower roll, an axle extending through and supporting said tubular shaft, driving means for said axle, clutch means on the axle and shaft operable by longitudinal movement of the lower roll and means to move the lower roll to declutch the axle and shaft when roll pressure is released and by reverse movement to engage the clutch when roll pressure is restored.

' 2. In a wringer, a frame, a pair of cooperative wringer rolls, pressure means for the rolls, roll pressure release means, a tubular shaft through one of the rolls, an axle extending through and supporting said tubular shaft, driving means for said axle, clutch means on the axle and shaft operable by longitudinal movement of the tubular shaft roll and means to move the roll to declutch the axle and shaft when roll pressure is released and by reverse movement to engage the clutch when roll pressure is restored.

3. In a Wringer, a frame, a pair of cooperative wringer rolls, pressure means for the rolls, roll pressure release means, a tubular shaft through the lower roll, an axle extending through and supporting said tubular shaft, driving means for said axle, clutch means on the axle and shaft operable by relative longitudinal movement and means to cause relative longitudinal movement whereby the clutch is released upon release of roll pressure and engaged when roll pressure is restored.

4. In a wringer, a frame, a pair of cooperative wringer rolls, pressure means for the rolls, roll pressure release means, a tubular shaft through one of the rolls, an axle extending through and supporting said tubular shaft, driving means for said axle, clutch means on the axle and shaft operable by relative longitudinal movement and means to cause relative longitudinal movement whereby the clutch is released upon release of roll pressure and engaged when roll pressure is restored.

- NICHOLAS L. ETTEN. 

